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Author Topic: Vulcan Quasar 40  (Read 5955 times)

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Offline Rodza1

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Vulcan Quasar 40
« on: May 05, 2014, 06:08:58 PM »
Anyone work on these much? Got one to sort out tomorrow. First one. Pilot works, main burner control works. Fan does not kick in at all after a few minutes like it should and the main burner shuts off after 5-6 minutes back to pilot only. Power is connected and turned on to the appliance. Im thinking either the fan motor is had it or the thermostat. And the overheat cut out possibly turning off the main burner as the appliance is getting too hot as the fan fails to function.


cheers rodza

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Offline Badger

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Re: Vulcan Quasar 40
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2014, 06:20:18 PM »
check the fan switch, not the main switch but a heat sensor on the heat exchanger, the unit got to be hot to bring the fan on (bit like the over heat stat, but it turns the fan on, not the burner off), pretty sure haven't seen one for a while.... like about 10 years.
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Offline Rodza1

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Re: Vulcan Quasar 40
« Reply #2 on: May 05, 2014, 06:56:47 PM »
ok thanks badger I will check that out. The sensor your talking about is located up high on the wall furnace behind the outer casing?

I found this link earlier that shows work taking place on the same model I will be looking at. Was quite interesting, clock failure.

http://users.tpg.com.au/janda_sj/Vulcan/Vulcan%20Quasar%2040%20gas%20heater%20repair.html

As I have no functional fan it seems to me like the fan switch sensor like you say or possibly maybe bad fan. The fact the burner switches back to pilot after 5-6mins must be the overheat cutout doing its thing.

They are a pretty beefy appliance. I installed a Braemar a few years back and removed a few older models too but never maintained any wall furnaces before.

Offline Badger

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Re: Vulcan Quasar 40
« Reply #3 on: May 05, 2014, 07:27:35 PM »
used to call it a limit stat, it kicks in when hot enough to bringing on the fan, if it don't come on then the unit over heats and cuts out, if you have power to the limit stat but not past it and then it cuts out on over heat, change the limit stat.

Let me know how you go mate. Hope this helps.

Offline Rodza1

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Re: Vulcan Quasar 40
« Reply #4 on: May 05, 2014, 07:38:48 PM »
Great, sounds like a solid diagnosis! Needs a full service anyway so I will pull it apart tomorrow.

Next challenge, getting parts. Know a agent to get them through braemar/vulcan in nz?

I know one place to go locally but yeah...

Offline Jaxcat

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Re: Vulcan Quasar 40
« Reply #5 on: May 05, 2014, 08:14:58 PM »
Pretty sure you used to be able to get parts from ABER NZ - but these are a pretty old appliance and have been replaced by the Bonnaire Pyrox wall furnaces.   ABER recently sold off some parts of their business so not sure if the spare parts was in that.  Contact them and see what they have available - they may put you on to a service agent to purchase parts, but they may be happy to sell directly if you pre-pay.
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Offline Rodza1

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Re: Vulcan Quasar 40
« Reply #6 on: May 05, 2014, 09:01:01 PM »
I"ll start with them then, worth a shot anyway! thanks Jaxcat

Offline foggy

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Re: Vulcan Quasar 40
« Reply #7 on: May 05, 2014, 09:39:35 PM »
I've had two in the last few years where the fan motors had gone, you could still get new ones from Aber.
Bit of a mission to take out and they are bloody expensive to buy, did once get one through a electrical motor rewind company, half the price but it was a lot of hassle and time to get sorted.

Offline bowtieboy

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Re: Vulcan Quasar 40
« Reply #8 on: May 06, 2014, 07:50:51 AM »
Rodza1 Richard is your man at aber to ask for if you have any questions about the Quasar, i would have though that if the appilance was cutting out on over temp it would be turning off the pilot.
regards
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Offline Rodza1

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Re: Vulcan Quasar 40
« Reply #9 on: May 06, 2014, 08:46:41 AM »
Hi guys,

Thanks for all the advice. I will give Aber a call and see if I can speak to Richard. Perhaps the main gas valve closes on over temp but leaves the pilot tube operating? I will have to investigate further I guess.

I have heard buying a new fan for these is pricey, end call will be up to the customer I guess

will post back with what I find cheers  ;D

Offline Rodza1

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Re: Vulcan Quasar 40
« Reply #10 on: May 06, 2014, 06:34:08 PM »
I had a look at the quasar this afternoon. Fan thermostat was mounted just to the side of the viewing glass for the pilot.

I tested it after running the appliance for about 5 minutes and it had power running through it. The fan also had power going to it (I tested the wiring going directly to the fan motor without exposing the fan), and your right foggy, they look like a mission to get out! Couldnt help but have a laugh to myself. fun fun.

Im pretty sure the fan motor is had it. From what I could see it was caked with dust too.

Offline craftsman

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Re: Vulcan Quasar 40
« Reply #11 on: May 06, 2014, 09:18:18 PM »
hi Rodza, i may be able to help, i purchased a quaser , a long time ago as a replacement for one i had in a rental property. I never fitted it , in fact it is still in the packaging that it was delivered to me in, so i have never bothered to look at it but i have it. I had already replaced the fan unit on the one i had in the rental and although it was new it also failed.
If you need it or parts let me know.
Cant even remember if it was new or used, seem to recall it new or newish at the time

Offline craftsman

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Re: Vulcan Quasar 40
« Reply #12 on: May 06, 2014, 09:20:31 PM »
i cant recall if it was a 40 or a did they make a 26?
anyhow not sure what it is, would have to unpack it to look

Offline Jaxcat

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Re: Vulcan Quasar 40
« Reply #13 on: May 07, 2014, 05:06:50 AM »
They did indeed have two models - 40 mj and a smaller one - could well be 26.  I think you could get a deluxe and standard model.

Offline Rodza1

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Re: Vulcan Quasar 40
« Reply #14 on: May 07, 2014, 07:24:17 AM »
Hi Craftsman,

Thanks for your response. I would be interested in your quasar. Have a look at it when you get a chance and see which model it is.

Might be able to do a deal for it  8) Cheers


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